Apple Considering Foldable iPad, According to Supply Chain Sources

[MacRumors]

Apple is considering releasing a foldable iPad in the future, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report shared today.

"Apple, who is rumored to have been working on foldable smartphones for several years, reportedly is considering extending the effort to the tablet sector," the preview says, citing sources from the upstream supply chain.

The report corroborates existing rumors about a foldable iPad. In January, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that a foldable iPad would launch in 2024, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young said they had not heard anything about such a device at the time. Kuo said the foldable iPad would feature an all-new design and a lightweight and durable carbon fiber kickstand.

Like foldable smartphones from brands such as Samsung and Google, a foldable iPad would have a hinge that allows the device to be opened and closed like a book, resulting in a much larger display than existing models when it is unfolded. A foldable iPad would likely be positioned above the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $1,099.

Apple has yet to release any devices with foldable displays, but rumors suggest the company is considering all options over the long term, including a foldable iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It remains to be seen if Apple ever releases any of these devices, or if the plans will remain limited to the research and development stage.

Article Link: Apple Considering Foldable iPad, According to Supply Chain Sources

 

[codewrangler]

This would be a stupid product...there is no need for it.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I'm really not a fan of foldable screens. The crease in between the screen kills everything. It looks too cheap, gimmicky, and flimsy. 😌

In my opinion, a curve screen would be more appealing!

 

[dantracht]

I like the idea of a foldable iPad. I guess. Definitely curious how Apple would handle this.

 

[Mansu944]

Why?

 

[uller6]

Yeah I have no interest in foldable screens. I like the candybar/slablet form factor thank you very much.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple has yet to release any devices with foldable displays, but rumors suggest the company is considering all options over the long term, including a foldable iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

A foldable Mac (desktop)? How would that work?

If by Mac you mean MacBook, yeah, that already folds. 🤣

 

[klasma]

The only reason I would be interested in this would be the larger screen, though I’d prefer a non-foldable version of that.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Foldable stuff is so janky. I can't imagine Apple finding the current technology aesthetically acceptable even if it were useful.

 

[anthogag]

A foldable iPad is a laptop. Typing on physical keys is currently much better than glass.

I use my 12.9" M2 iPad Pro with my hovering Pencil.

The first foldable could be an iPhone a person could wrap around the wrist. An iPhone-Watch hybrid.

 

[B4rbelith]

I feel that if Apple does release products with foldable displays, they will utilise a new system that hasn’t been implemented before.

For this reason I will hold judgment until I see what they come up with down the line.

 

[Falhófnir]

Presumably they won't do this 'just because' so I'm interested to see what the rationale for making this is. It could be as simple as making a ~13" iPad more portable, or it could open up some new or novel use cases?

 

[nfl46]

I don't think I'll ever go back to a slab phone. After using foldables, you will appreciate the extra screen size.

 

[Mr. Dee]

All I know is, I won’t be an early adopter of this experiment. My next iPad upgrade will definitely be a traditional iPad Pro. Hopefully they push the screen size to 14.1 inch. It’s long overdue especially with desktop features like stage manager and some rudimentary windowing. And also, move to OLED for the deeper blacks and power efficiency.

 

[klasma]

Why?

It’s like the Zenbook 17 Fold: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-home/zenbook/zenbook-17-fold-oled-ux9702/

 

[timber]

The idea is extremely appealing. The current clunkiness and creases not so much.

So of course Apple is considering, they will consider and consider until and if it makes sense to launch.

 

[lazyrighteye]

It’s an iPad. It’s a mini.
That some can’t see a market for it is funny - when you consider what Apple sees as a market or when looking across their product offerings. Why not add another iPad to the already crowded mix?

Jokes aside: I love my mini. There are times, drawing, where a larger iPad would be better. I could see a market for a supper portable iPad (mini) that offers more scene when needed.

That said, I struggle with current foldable implementations. I know they’re all the rage, in some corners, but I’m not yet convinced. A phone that unfolds to an iPad mini seems likely more desirable than a mini that unfolds to a larger iPad. Anywho…

 

[Lioness~]

I have an iPad Mini - small without folding. iPhone Mini even smaller that includes a phone.
Then I have a foldable Mac - MacBook Air with a real keyboard.
I am good.

Think it still will take awhile before these foldable's will be interesting, at least for me. They look ugly.
But innovation is always welcome, it just doesn’t hit the target immediately.

 

[jz0309]

Interesting…
And all those here who poopoo this are the first ones in line when it gets released

 

[tagsaid]

I keep reading that it’s dumb, “why?”, there’s no need for it, etc.

From my point of view, just because you don’t feel you’d use it, doesn’t make it a bad idea.

Just like with iPads and some other products, the use cases starting popping up after the product was released.

Will it be a hit? Who knows? I do know that I’ll be first in line for this and I could see myself using this much more than a Vision Pro - To me that’s more of a useless gimmick that a foldable but that’s just due to my use case.

 

[SteveJay10]

Bigger screen for iPad Pro. Foldable or not.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Yes making a foldable iPad is definitely the solution to fix the iPad lineup. Not improving iPadOS, not making the iPad more Mac like to justify buying an iPad Pro, but making a folding iPad, that will win people over.

Man, what happened to you iPad?

 

[Aston441]

It’s like the Zenbook 17 Fold: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-home/zenbook/zenbook-17-fold-oled-ux9702/

Yuck. That is all.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Well, this would be awful.

 

[mazz0]

This would be a stupid product...there is no need for it.

Are you mad?! It's like a laptop, but with a worse keyboard! What's not to like?